Quote: "It would be really great if people would realize that
stars are only people with the same weaknesses and flaws, not immaculate idols."

Meg Ryan Biography

Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra -- known as Meg or Peggy to family and friends
-- was born November 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut. The daughter of
Harry, a teacher, and Susan, a teacher, former actress and casting director,
Meg did not intend to become the Hollywood cutie she is known as today.

With original intentions of pursuing a journalistic career, one would think
that perhaps Meg inherited the acting bug from her mother, who left a 15-year-old
Meg, her two sisters and her brother to become an actress.

Once Meg graduated from Bethel High School, she followed up her academic
studies at the University of Connecticut. In order to pay for her tuition,
Meg landed some acting gigs in several commercials. Her mother helped her
become a member of the Screen Actors Guild, under her maiden name, and thus
"Meg Ryan", as we know her today, was born.

Meg was cast in her feature film debut alongside Candice Bergen in the film,
Rich and Famous in 1981, and decided to leave behind her journalistic studies
to try her hand at acting. The former homecoming queen got her start on the
small-screen, with roles in an After School Special, Amy the Angel, and appearances
on the comedy Charles in Charge. She also became a regular on the daytime
soap, As the World Turns, until 1984.

The series Wildside was the last of Meg's television career; one that would
quickly be overshadowed by her present status as Hollywood's Sweetheart. After
a role in 1983's Amityville III: The Demon, moviegoers would catch a glimpse
of the blonde, perky actress in Top Gun, as Goose's wife (played by Anthony
Edwards).

But her claim to fame came with a starring role in 1989's, When Harry Met
Sally, co-starring Billy Crystal. Her scene-stealing fake orgasm in the middle
of a restaurant went down in movie history, and practically locked Meg into
Hollywood's list of up-and-comers. The Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks team started when
the two paired up to star in Joe Versus the Volcano and the two were paired
again in 1993's chick flick, Sleepless in Seattle.

The latter secured Meg as an A-list actress, and made audiences forget about
her roles in The Doors and Promised Land, which, although were notable performances,
didn't showcase Meg's adorable qualities. The early to mid '90s were also
marked with hits such as When a Man Loves a Woman and French Kiss.

Other notable performances by Meg were in the period piece Restoration, Courage
Under Fire (co-starring Denzel Washington and Matt Damon), and the animated
feature, Anastasia. In 1999, Meg reunited with her Sleepless in Seattle co-star
Tom Hanks to star in You've Got Mail.

In addition to her acting duties, Meg is also founder of her own production
company, Prufrock Pictures (formerly Fandango Films), as well as the mother
of her son with Dennis Quaid, Jack Henry. Meg first met Dennis Quaid on the
set of 1987's Innerspace and the couple started dating while filming D.O.A.
Their marriage proved to be dead on arrival during the summer of 2000, when
the divorce of one of Hollywood's most enduring couples was announced, and
Meg was rumored to be cuddling up to her Proof of Life co-star, Russell Crowe.

After a starring role in 1999's Hanging Up, Meg was then seen in Proof of
Life. Her upcoming projects include Kate & Leopold, and a remake of the 1939
classic, The Women, co-starring fellow Hollywood sweetheart, Julia
Roberts.

As an A-list and box-office attracting actress, Meg Ryan has proved to be
lovable, both on and off-screen, and one thing's for certain -- we're glad
she didn't stick to journalism.